Healing at Home After a C-Section: A Novel Approach to Postpartum Care
Healing at Home After a C-Section: A Novel Approach to Postpartum Care
Recovering from a major surgery like a C-section is not easy, but for mothers who have young children at home, these challenges are compounded. Finding time to rest and heal can feel impossible at times.
鈥淢oms who have had a C-section are potentially facing a lot in terms of their recovery,鈥 says Brett Einerson, MD, MPH, FACOG, a specialist and expert in maternal-fetal medicine at 麻豆学生精品版. 鈥淭hey have all the expectations, difficulties, and joys of being a new mom, but in addition, they鈥檙e recovering from a major abdominal surgery.鈥
Traditional C-section care in a hospital involves up to four nights鈥 stay in the hospital for the mother, followed by going home. Between providing around-the-clock care to a newborn, parenting older children, and healing, finding time to travel to follow-up appointments can add unnecessary stress. During those gaps in care for the new mother, warning signs of complications can easily be missed.
But through programs like U of U Health, second time c-section moms can choose to recover at home, where they are comfortable and surrounded by their family, rather than staying in the hospital longer. U of U Health is the only health system in Utah offering this type of postpartum care to women as an alternative to hospital care.
鈥淚nstead of spending three or four nights in the hospital, they get to spend those nights at home and receive check-ins from home health care as much as needed,鈥 Einerson explains.
Benefits of Recovering at Home 聽
For mothers who prefer to recover at home, this program provides the same level of postpartum care without hospitalization. No additional modifications are needed at home beyond the usual preparations for a newborn. Most patients receive two to three home check-ins per day for the first few days after discharge, though the frequency may vary depending on needs. This program helps patients with a variety of needs, including:
- Pain management
- Mobility and moving around
- Returning to normal urinary and bowel function
- Emotional support and reassurance
In addition to caring for mom, the home health staff provides care for the newborn, including evaluations, screenings, and lactation support. Nurses also provide critical oversight as the mother transitions from the hospital to the home environment, closely monitoring for any postpartum complications.
During check-ins, home health nurses:
- Monitor blood pressure
- Manage preexisting conditions, including diabetes
- Watch for signs of infection, such as at the wound site or the C-section scar
- Provide postpartum mental health support
Home health nurses often spot early signs of complications before the patient seeks care independently. If that happens, the home care team will contact the clinical staff to determine an appropriate course of treatment, which may include an in-person visit.
Flexibility in Postpartum Recovery
Einerson wants his patients to know that they have a choice about whether to receive postpartum care in the hospital or at home. The Heal at Home program empowers women to decide whether returning home sooner will provide a more comforting, restful environment.
鈥淲e really pride ourselves on having a healing environment at the hospital, but sleep is often more interrupted,鈥 Einerson says. 鈥淧eople are often not resting as well as they would at home.鈥
Einerson鈥檚 favorite part about the Heal at Home program is that it鈥檚 designed not just for maternal recovery but also for newborn support and eventually the transition to pediatrics.
By offering a bridge from maternal to pediatric care, U of U Health is providing a whole-family system of support for new moms.
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